Reports being released that an Australian BlackHawk has crashed off of Fiji with up to ten on board , further report is of one dead and one missing . Chief of Defence Force and Defence minister to give a press conference shortly .

Air Marshall Houston has just confirmed that the Blackhawk was attempting to land on the Kanimbla with 10 Army personel on board during a training exercise when it was lost into the sea. One person is missing and one of those recovered later died of their injuries on board Kanimbla .

Whilst not listed in this article , the radio this morning is reporting that the officer killed was one of the Pilots and that the missing man is one of the SASR solidiers who was in the back. The helicopter sank in 2000 to 3000 metres of water and is unlikely to be recovered .

Watching the press conference last night it was heartening to see both the CDF and the Minister were genuinely shaken by this event and were quite emotional whilst giving out the details to the press .

The CDF is an ex Helo pilot from 9 SQN back when the RAAF had control of the ADF Helo assetts and I believe he was involved with the introduction of the Blackhawk into AUS service.

Capt Bingley's funeral is today, some way down in the attatched report is the news that neither the PM or Defence minister will be attending .Already on ABC radio the Mayor of Townsville has come out and said this is wrong , and since Parliment rose for the year Yesterday who am I to argue